Maine theater seeking two Black actors for postponed production.
The Grand Theater in Ellsworth, Maine, is currently facing a pressing challenge in its preparations for the musical “Big River,” which is inspired by Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” The theater is actively seeking to cast two Black female actors for minor yet crucial roles as a mother and her daughter, a casting effort that has led to a one-week delay in the production’s opening. If the theater is unable to fill these roles by the performance date, the show may face cancellation, as reported by Media News Source.
Despite efforts to encourage diversity within the cast, only one Black actor has auditioned thus far. This individual has been selected for the prominent role of Jim, a former slave pivotal to the narrative. The theater’s struggle to secure additional Black talent is particularly notable given that Ellsworth, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, has a predominantly white population, with approximately 92% of its 8,700 residents identifying as white.
The Grand Theater’s history adds another layer to this issue. During its previous staging of “Big River” in 2000, the roles that could not be filled by Black actors were portrayed by white performers in blackface, a practice that has faced significant criticism and is deemed unacceptable in today’s cultural climate. The current executive director, Nick Turner, has expressed the theater’s commitment to ensuring that the cast authentically reflects the characters’ racial identities. He indicated that utilizing inappropriate methods from the past, such as blackface, is simply not an option in 2025.
In a bid to cultivate a suitable cast, the Grand Theater has reached out to its community via email, appealing for assistance in identifying two Black female performers. The production team has emphasized that no prior acting experience is necessary for those interested in joining the cast, which is scheduled to perform eight times following its delayed opening.
Turner has mentioned that interest has been generated from potential candidates, suggesting that there may still be hope for the production to bolster its cast in time. As the situation develops, the theater remains committed to its principles of inclusivity and representation. The outcome of this casting call will be pivotal not only for the current production but also in shaping the ongoing discourse surrounding diversity in the performing arts. Theater officials were unavailable for comment on the progress of casting as of Monday evening.
